Consider these Novak Djokovic moments from 2025. January’s vintage quarter-final win over Carlos Alcaraz at the Australian Open. June’s poignant touching of the clay after a battling defeat to Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals of Roland Garros, as the Paris crowd chanted his name. The deflating losses to Sinner at Wimbledon and Alcaraz at the US Open, as well as the admission that he “ran out of gas” against his young rival. But, still, reaching four grand slam semi-finals in one season at the age of 38. Winning the 101st title of his career in a three-hour epic against Lorenzo Musetti in November, as all four sides of the arena in Athens stood and his children cheered on with them.
What do they say about the source of his enduring motivation, as Djokovic enters the 22nd season of his career? Back in Paris in the summer, when Djokovic sounded closer to retirement than perhaps ever before, it was hard to imagine the 24-time grand slam champion settling for the position where he now finds himself. But that was before what Alcaraz and Sinner produced in their Roland Garros epic, and completed a second consecutive year of splitting the grand slam titles between them. Following his defeat to Alcaraz in the US Open semi-finals, Djokovic made it perfectly clear that beating the Spaniard or Sinner over best of five sets was now “very, very difficult” – particularly if, as he continues be ranked inside the world’s top four, the earliest he can face them is the semi-finals and he already has five matches in the tank.
Perhaps Djokovic would have more of a chance if he caught Alcaraz or Sinner in the earlier rounds, when he is fresher. But that would require an alarming drop in his ranking. Maybe Djokovic could reach the semi-finals of a grand slam and find that one of Alcaraz or Sinner had been upset, knocked out by a rogue wildcard? But given how Alcaraz and Sinner have separated themselves from the field, as well as how the consistency they both produce is fuelled by a shared determination to face each other in the biggest finals, a surprise second-round defeat is just as unlikely. Even then, Djokovic would probably have to play the other in the final, anyway.
Is Djokovic beating either Alcaraz or Sinner over best of five sets really now so unthinkable? A year ago, Djokovic capitalised on a distracted performance from Alcaraz to defeat the now six-time grand slam champion in the Australian Open quarter-finals. It was the biggest lesson Alcaraz learnt in 2025, as he brought more maturity into his matches and became less prone to dips. By the US Open, a few months later, Alcaraz was unrelenting. As for Sinner, the Italian has had Djokovic’s number for a while and has won his last five matches against him, as well as two exhibitions. “He kicked my ass,” Djokovic said after a 6-4 6-2 defeat to Sinner in their last meeting in Saudi Arabia.
A reason for Djokovic to stick around is the target of a 25th grand slam singles title, which would put him out on his own for the all-time record. But, given how committed Alcaraz and Sinner are to locking them up for the near future, Roger Federer’s 103 career singles titles seems to be a closer rabbit to chase, even if Jimmy Conners would remain way out ahead on a record 109. It is far more feasible for Djokovic to win two or three more tournaments on the ATP Tour, especially in the shorter format.
He also wants a second Olympic singles title, to match Andy Murray. Djokovic has revealed he intends to keep playing until then, calling LA 2028 a “guiding star”. He would be 41 if he decides to defend his title.
Part of Djokovic’s emotional reaction after departing Court Philippe-Chatrier in June was his acceptance that, at this stage of his career, one bad injury is all it would take to make the dream farewell just that, a dream.
Instead, he was shown his gratitude to still be at the point where he can beat Alexander Zverev and Taylor Fritz in grand slam quarter-finals and raise the roof at the biggest stages in tennis while doing so, as well as the humility to accept the role of the “third man” that he refused to play as he disrupted the dominance of Federer and Rafael Nadal. Age can do that and, for the 38-year-old Djokovic, it seems to be more than enough to hang around a little longer.
Djokovic’s confirmation that he had cut ties with the rebellious Professional Tennis Players Association he co-founded, amid its ongoing legal action against tennis’ governing bodies and the grand slams, was also reflective of the focus on his final goal. He will do his own thing, on his own terms. Australia, where Djokovic is a 10-time champion, is another opportunity. He may be in the curious position of tennis limbo, but Djokovic is still determined to have these moments.
